Clostridium difficile Infection (CDI) Surveillance

Purpose

The purpose of the surveillance for CDI is to determine the population-based incidence of community–and healthcare-associated CDI in the Rochester area hospitals; characterize C. difficile strains that are responsible for CDI with an emphasis on strains from community-associated cases; and describe the epidemiology of CDI.

Goals and Objectives

Determine the population-based incidence of community- and healthcare-associated CDI among participating EIP sites.

Characterize C. difficile strains that are responsible for CDI in the population under surveillance with a focus on strains from community-associated cases.

Describe the epidemiology of community- and healthcare-associated CDI and generate hypotheses for future research activities using EIP CDI surveillance infrastructure.

Activities

CDI laboratory-based surveillance is conducted for all positive C. difficile tests using a weekly list provided by participating EIP sites. Cases are evaluated and classified as either community onset (healthcare associated or community associated) or healthcare onset. Each presumptive community associated case, each community onset health care associated case, and a 10% sample of health care onset cases require full chart review to complete case report forms. Select participating laboratories will save stool samples from cases of CDI for further laboratory evaluation including culture and toxin type testing performed at NYS Wadsworth Laboratory or CDC.